Ganapati.

Birth of Ganesha, Curse due to Moon, Shamantaka Jewel Vyakhanam.

Obstacles: Every human goes through this in almost every day of his life, it is inevitable to find a human without any obstacles, because the very purpose this earth was created is for the souls to come and get rid of their "Bad Karma", or to earn "Good Karma", or to prove their mantle so that they can assimilate in to the supreme soul.

The story of Ganajana, and shamantaka Jewel is told by Sutha Rishi to the King Sanaka.

There used to be a elephant, named Gajasura, to obtain lord shiva he performs a very long penance, lord shiva ( The innocent God) appears before Gajasura and asks him for his wish.

Gajasura says: Hey swami! "you should live in my belly forever".

[As Lord Shiva is know for his character for offering any thing to anyone] so Lord Shiva enters Gajasura's belly and lives there.

At that time in Kailash (Shiva abode) Lord Shiva's consort, Parvati Devi comes to know about the whole happening through her divine foresight, she runs to Lord Vishnu and wails.

"Hey Narayana!, as you rescued Lord Shiva from a demon named Bhasmasura in the past",
[Bhasmasura was a demon who wanted to rule the whole world, so he performs penance to appease Lord Shiva, and once Lord Shiva appears, he asks for a boon that if he places his hand on anyone's head, that person should burn to ashes, Lord Shiva approves it, at that moment the demon Bhasmasura tries to place his hand on Lord Shiva's head to check if it works, then Lord Narayana transforms himself into a beautiful women and kills Bhasmasura with his own hand ] Parvati Devi pleads, "please save him again from Gajasura", and she tells him the whole story.

Narayana takes Nandi (Lord Shiva's vehicle), Lord Brahma and few other Gana's (Lord Shiva's followers kind of demi gods) proceed to Gajasura's place, Lord Narayana transforms himself into a human being and takes the bull and the other gods with him as his fellow dancers, they go making some music around Gajasura's place, Gajsura gets curious and wants to take a look at the musical party and the dancing bull and he feels very happy for the bull.

Gajasura asks the human (Narayana) : "Hey human ask what ever you want".

Lord Narayana says: "Swami! this is Lord shiva's vehicle "Nandi" the bull, and it is looking for Lord Shiva, please show him his master Lord Shiva, and after that we will take leave".

Gajasura is astonished! he thinks, how do they know about Lord Shiva, and he knows for sure that there is only one way to show Lord Shiva and that is by cutting open his belly, and if he cuts his belly, he sure will die, but as he has already promised the human to ask what ever he wants, he agrees to show Lord Shiva and pleads with Lord Shiva.

Gajasura: "Hey Shiva! it is time for my death, but once you are out of my stomach I would like my head to be worshipped by the three worlds (Heaven, Earth and Hell) and you should wear my skin". [ Lord Shiva agrees, and out comes Lord Shiva after the death of Gajasura].

Lord Shiva returns home with his bull "Nandi" and Lord Narayana and Lord Brahma also return to their respective abodes. [Parvati Devi comes to know about this event and prepares herself to welcome her husband Lord Shiva in Kailash, she goes in to take bath and while taking bath she scrapes her body and with that scrape of her body she makes a small boy and gives him life force, the boy breathes life and she instructs him to guard the main door till she completes her bath.

As the boy is guarding the door, Lord Shiva appears and tries to enter his abode, the boy not knowing who Lord Shiva was, objects Lord Shiva's entry and after a little fight, Lord Shiva beheads the small boy and enters his abode, Parvati Devi welcomes him and they exchange pleasantries, and then the topic of the small boy crops up, Parvati Devi feels extremely sad for the little boy, Lord Shiva promises her that he will bring the small boy back to life, at that moment he remembers the wish he had given to the elephant Gajasura, that, his head will be worshipped in the three worlds, so he asks his followers to bring the head of the killed Gajasura and he places the head of the Gajasura-elephant and gives life force to the elephant headed boy and names him Gajanana, Gajanana makes a demon his vehicle after he is transformed into a mouse.

During that time, Lord Shiva and Parvati Devi had another child, Lord Subramanium [Army chief of GODs] , one day all the Gana's complain to Lord Shiva that their lives are full of obstacles and he needs to appoint some one as the "Ruler of obstacles", and they suggest, why not one of his son's take that responsibility, Lord shiva informs his son's about it.

Gajanana and Subramanium swami both ask Lord Shiva for that responsibility, Lord Shiva tells them, whoever takes bath in all the rivers, oceans, and all the water sources of the three worlds and returns to me first will be given the responsibility to rules the obstacles.

So Subramanium swami takes off on his vehicle the peacock, at that moment Gajanana says, "hey father!, it is not possible for me to go faster than my brother on this mouse with my huge body, so please father give a solution for this problem".

Lord shiva says: "Hey son!, anyone who chants Narayana Mantra one time, attains the status of having taken bath in three hundred water sources". promptly Gajanana settles in one place and starts chanting the Narayana Mantra continuously.

Every time Subramanium Swami arrives at a water source, he sees Gajanana already leaving that water source and this happens at almost every water source and as he returns to Kailash, he finds Gajanana seated in a fine posture, he pleads with his father.

"Hey father! My brother Gajanana is superior to me by many folds so he is the right one for the position as "Ruler of obstacles", and hence Lord Shiva awards the position of "Ruler of obstacles" to Gajanana and is he named Vighneshwara.

Every one worships Vighneshwara on the fourth day of Bhadrapada month, the day when Lord Gajanana is made the "Ruler of obstacles", so lots of sweatmeats likes, sweet rice balls, Bananas, Honey, Milk, Coconut, Wheat flour balls, etc are prepared for Gajanana as offerings.
Gajanana on that day makes a round of Earth and consumes too many such sweatmeats, his stomach breaks open due to the pressure, but he refuses to stop and he ties his stomach with a snake and continues to eat and returns to kailash to take his parents blessings.

As he bends to touch his parents feet's he falls flat on his stomach and collapses, Moon present their is not able to control himself and laughs at the plight of Gajanana, Parvati Devi also present their feels sorry for her son and curses Moon, that if anyone ever look at the moon will go through, censor, bad blames, even if he/she did not commit it, will be blamed for it.

At that moment, on the earth, the "seven sages", happen to perform a Yagya and their wives happen to circle around the fire, the fire god looking at those seven women falls in love with the seven wives of sages, this is observed by the wife of fire god and she transforms herself into the six women except "Arundati" and satisfies her husband's wish, the six sages observe this and they curse their wives for being unfaithful, like this the curse of Parvati Devi is fructified by seeing the Moon.

Lord Narayana comes to know about this event and he informs the sages about the real happening and the wives of the sages are freed from the curse which they did not deserve, at that moment the wives of the sages plead, "hey Narayana!, you came to know about us and the curse of Parvati Devi and you saved us, but what about the millions of ordinary people, so same way we should do something to save millions of humans on the earth who might be blamed for something which they did not do or deserve", so Narayana with all the sages and their wives reach kailash and request Parvati Devi to find a solution for the problem, because it is amost impossible for humans to avoid seeing moon from earth.

Parvati Devi, says, "OK!, only on that day of the year when the moon laughed at my son, if anyone takes a look at the moon will go through the censor and bad name etc". everyone conveys their thanks to Parvati Devi and return to their respective abodes, meanwhile Gajanana gets back to his normal self. Time passes by.

In Dwapar Yuga ( About 5200 years back), Lord Krishna and the Shamantaka Jewel.

One day Narada visits Lord Krishna in Dwaraka and informs him about the Moon and the related curse and tells him not to see the Moon on that day, so Lord Krishna conveys this message to all people of Dwaraka, In the evening time he walks in to the balcony with his head down, to avoid seeing moon, and he tries to drink milk from a bowl, as he drinks milk he sees the reflection of moon in the milk bowl, he exclaims! Aha! what have I done and anticipates for some bad name to follow.

After some time, A person named Satrajit, gets a jewel named "Shamantaka" from Sun god after a long penance. Satrajit visits Lord Krishna, after all the formalities, Lord Krishna questions Satrajit about the jewel and asks him to give it to him, Satrajit refuses and tells him that is is too valuable as it creates gold and returns home, his brother Prasana goes for hunting in the forest and takes the jewel with him, a lion gets attracted to the shining object and attacks Prasana and kills him and takes the jewel away, later a Bear named Jambavanta, [Jambavanta is the same bear who helped Lord Rama in Treta Yuga (About 1 million years ago) to save Sita from the demon king of Lanka "Ravana".] he is a human with bear face, he snatches the jewel from the lion and gives it to his daughter, " Jambavati" in a cave.

Meanwhile, the people of Satrajit go searching for Prasana and find him dead but the jewel, when Satrajit comes to know about it, he suspects Lord Krishna and blames lord Krishna as the thief and the murderer, Lord Krishna comes to know about it and knows that it is time for the curse to fructify, so he takes few people with him and goes to the place where Prasana lay killed, he finds the footprints of the lion next to the body of Prasana, he follows them and later he finds the lion and foot prints of bear, which take him to the cave, he goes alone inside the cave and finds Jambavati playing with the jewel, he tries to take it, but she raises an alarm, mighty bear king Jambavanta comes and fights with Lord Krishna, the fight goes on for 28 days, after 28 days the bear falls on the ground and realizes that it is none but Lord Rama in the incarnation of Lord Krishna [He remembers his request to Lord Rama, once Rama asks Jambavanta, "what do you want in exchange for your services", Jambavanta requests for a wrestling match with Rama, Lord Rama assures him that one day he will get a chance]

Jambavanta asks: "Hey lord what brought you here", Lord krishna tells him the whole story and requests him for the jewel, Jambavanta offers his daughter and the jewel, Lord Krishna comes out of the cave and returns the jewel to the Satrajit and tells him the whole story.
Satrajit feels extremely sorry for his behavior and offers his sister, Satyabhama and the jewel as a token of apology.

Lord krishna accepts Satyabhama but the jewel and returns home and all the guests who come to bless the couple plead with lord Krishna, "hey Krishna! you are a supreme soul, so you could go and find the solution for the blame and get out of it with in no time, but what about the million of humans who are ordinary souls, how can they find solution to their blames and bad names or censor etc following the seeing of the moon on the fateful day".

Lord Krishna said like this: Every year on the fourth day of bhadrapada you should worship Lord Vighneswara, and listen or narrate the story, right from the birth of Lord Gajanana till the returning of Shamantaka Jewel by me, and sprinkle " Axatas", (Colored unbroken rice) on your head, then even if you see the moon on that fateful day the curse will not fructify, and from here onwards Gajanana will not only be the ruler of obstacles but he will be the king of all Gana's and people so he will also be called as the Vighneshwara Ganadhipati .

Hearing this all the people make merry and regale with happiness and since then every year on the fourth day of Bhadrapada (around Aug-Sep) people worship Lord Vignesha as the Ruler and Remover of obstacles with faith and devotion.

This story was narrated by Sutha Rishi to the king Sanaka.

This story by Sri Malladi Venkata Krishna Murthy in simple Telugu is translated in to English by me for the readers.

ॐ गँ गणपतये नमः ! 

Note: I have experimented with the Moon on this day (On purpose) sometime back and I know what happens :-), so it is a sincere request to everyone not to repeat what I have already done. 

The scientist in me could not stop himself from experimenting, now the human in me is trying to amend the past mistakes.

ॐ नमः शिवाय!

Sianala, Montreal, Sep 16, 2007

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महागणेशा पंचरत्न 

१०८ गणेशनामा

१००० गणेशनामा 

गणेश

गणपति 

महा गणपति 

गणेशा चतुर्थी 

गणेशा मंत्र 

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Ganesh Chaturthi

ॐ नमः शिवाय। 

SALUTATIONS to Lord Ganesha who is Brahman Himself, who is the Supreme Lord, who is the energy of Lord Shiva, who is the source of all bliss, and who is the bestower of all virtuous qualities and success in all undertakings.

Mushikavaahana modaka hastha,

Chaamara karna vilambitha sutra,

Vaamana rupa maheshwara putra,

Vighna vinaayaka paada namasthe

MEANING: "O Lord Vinayaka! the remover of all obstacles, the son of Lord Shiva, with a form which is very short, with mouse as Thy vehicle, with sweet pudding in hand, with wide ears and long hanging trunk, I prostrate at Thy lotus-like Feet!"

Ganesh Chaturthi is one of the most popular of Hindu festivals. This is the birthday of Lord Ganesha. It is the day most sacred to Lord Ganesha. It falls on the 4th day of the bright fortnight of Bhadrapada (August-September). It is observed throughout India, as well as by devoted Hindus in all parts of the world.

Clay figures of the Deity are made and after being worshipped for two days, or in some cases ten days, they are thrown into water.

Lord Ganesha is the elephant-headed God. He is worshipped first in any prayers. His Names are repeated first before any auspicious work is begun, before any kind of worship is begun.
He is the Lord of power and wisdom. He is the eldest son of Lord Shiva and the elder brother of Skanda or Kartikeya. He is the energy of Lord Shiva and so He is called the son of Shankar and Umadevi. By worshipping Lord Ganesha mothers hope to earn for their sons the sterling virtues of Ganesha.

The following story is narrated about His birth and how He came to have the head of an elephant:

Once upon a time, the Goddess Gauri (consort of Lord Shiva), while bathing, created Ganesha as a pure white being out of the mud of Her Body and placed Him at the entrance of the house. She told Him not to allow anyone to enter while she went inside for a bath. Lord Shiva Himself was returning home quite thirsty and was stopped by Ganesha at the gate. Shiva became angry and cut off Ganesha's head as He thought Ganesha was an outsider.

When Gauri came to know of this she was sorely grieved. To console her grief, Shiva ordered His servants to cut off and bring to Him the head of any creature that might be sleeping with its head facing north. The servants went on their mission and found only an elephant in that position. The sacrifice was thus made and the elephant's head was brought before Shiva. The Lord then joined the elephant's head onto the body of Ganesha.

Lord Shiva made His son worthy of worship at the beginning of all undertakings, marriages, expeditions, studies, etc. He ordained that the annual worship of Ganesha should take place on the 4th day of the bright half of Bhadrapada.

Without the Grace of Sri Ganesha and His help nothing whatsoever can be achieved. No action can be undertaken without His support, Grace or blessing.

In his first lesson in the alphabet a Maharashtrian child is initiated into the Mantra of Lord Ganesha, Om Sri Ganeshaya Namah. Only then is the alphabet taught.

The following are some of the common Names of Lord Ganesha: Dhoomraketu, Sumukha, Ekadantha, Gajakarnaka, Lambodara, Vignaraja, Ganadhyaksha, Phalachandra, Gajanana, Vinayaka, Vakratunda, Siddhivinayaka, Surpakarna, Heramba, Skandapurvaja, Kapila and Vigneshwara. He is also known by many as Maha-Ganapathi.

His Mantra is Om Gung Ganapathaye Namah. Spiritual aspirants who worship Ganesha as their tutelary Deity repeat this Mantra or Om Sri Ganeshaya Namah.
The devotees of Ganesha also do Japa of the Ganesha Gayatri Mantra. This is as follows.
Tat purushaaya vidmahe Vakratundaaya dheemahi Tanno dhanti prachodayaat.
Lord Ganesha is an embodiment of wisdom and bliss. He is the Lord of Brahmacharins. He is foremost amongst the celibates.

He has as his vehicle a small mouse. He is the presiding Deity of the Muladhara Chakra, the psychic centre in the body in which the Kundalini Shakti resides.
He is the Lord who removes all obstacles on the path of the spiritual aspirant, and bestows upon him worldly as well as spiritual success. Hence He is called Vigna Vinayaka. His Bija Akshara (root syllable) is Gung, pronounced to rhyme with the English word "sung". He is the Lord of harmony and peace.

Lord Ganesha represents Om or the Pranava, which is the chief Mantra among the Hindus. Nothing can be done without uttering it. This explains the practice of invoking Ganesha before beginning any rite or undertaking any project. His two feet represent the power of knowledge and the power of action. The elephant head is significant in that it is the only figure in nature that has the form of the symbol for Om.

The significance of riding on a mouse is the complete conquest over egoism. The holding of the ankusha represents His rulership of the world. It is the emblem of divine Royalty.
Ganesha is the first God. Riding on a mouse, one of nature's smallest creatures and having the head of an elephant, the biggest of all animals, denotes that Ganesha is the creator of all creatures. Elephants are very wise animals; this indicates that Lord Ganesha is an embodiment of wisdom. It also denotes the process of evolution--the mouse gradually evolves into an elephant and finally becomes a man. This is why Ganesha has a human body, an elephant's head and a mouse as His vehicle. This is the symbolic philosophy of His form.

He is the Lord of Ganas or groups, for instance groups of elements, groups of senses, etc. He is the head of the followers of Shiva or the celestial servants of Lord Shiva.
The Vaishnavas also worship Lord Ganesha. They have given Him the name of Tumbikkai Alwar which means the divinity with the proboscis (the elephant's trunk).

Lord Ganesha's two powers are the Kundalini and the Vallabha or power of love.
He is very fond of sweet pudding or balls of rice flour with a sweet core. On one of His birthdays He was going around house to house accepting the offerings of sweet puddings. Having eaten a good number of these, He set out moving on His mouse at night. Suddenly the mouse stumbled--it had seen a snake and became frightened--with the result that Ganesha fell down. His stomach burst open and all the sweet puddings came out. But Ganesha stuffed them back into His stomach and, catching hold of the snake, tied it around His belly.

Seeing all this, the moon in the sky had a hearty laugh. This unseemly behaviour of the moon annoyed Him immensely and so he pulled out one of His tusks and hurled it against the moon, and cursed that no one should look at the moon on the Ganesh Chaturthi day. If anyone does, he will surely earn a bad name, censure or ill-repute. However, if by mistake someone does happen to look at the moon on this day, then the only way he can be freed from the curse is by repeating or listening to the story of how Lord Krishna cleared His character regarding the Syamantaka jewel. This story is quoted in the Srimad Bhagavatam. Lord Ganesha was pleased to ordain thus. Glory to Lord Ganesha! How kind and merciful He is unto His devotees!

Ganesha and His brother Lord Subramanya once had a dispute as to who was the elder of the two. The matter was referred to Lord Shiva for final decision.

Shiva decided that whoever would make a tour of the whole world and come back first to the starting point had the right to be the elder. Subramanya flew off at once on his vehicle, the peacock, to make a circuit of the world. But the wise Ganesha went, in loving worshipfulness, around His divine parents and asked for the prize of His victory.

Lord Shiva said, "Beloved and wise Ganesha! But how can I give you the prize;

you did not go around the world?"

Ganesha replied, "No, but I have gone around my parents. My parents represent the entire manifested universe!"

Thus the dispute was settled in favour of Lord Ganesha, who was thereafter acknowledged as the elder of the two brothers. Mother Parvati also gave Him a fruit as a prize for this victory.

In the Ganapathi Upanishad, Ganesha is identified with the Supreme Self. The legends that are connected with Lord Ganesha are recorded in the Ganesha Khanda of the Brahma Vivartha Purana.

On the Ganesh Chaturthi day, meditate on the stories connected with Lord Ganesha early in the morning, during the Brahmamuhurta period. Then, after taking a bath, go to the temple and do the prayers of Lord Ganesha. Offer Him some coconut and sweet pudding. Pray with faith and devotion that He may remove all the obstacles that you experience on the spiritual path. Worship Him at home, too. You can get the assistance of a pundit. Have an image of Lord Ganesha in your house. Feel His Presence in it.

Don't forget not to look at the moon on that day; remember that it behaved unbecomingly towards the Lord. This really means avoid the company of all those who have no faith in God, and who deride God, your Guru and religion, from this very day.

Take fresh spiritual resolves and pray to Lord Ganesha for inner spiritual strength to attain success in all your undertakings.

May the blessings of Sri Ganesha be upon you all! May He remove all the obstacles that stand in your spiritual path! May He bestow on you all material prosperity as well as liberation!

ॐ नमः शिवाय! 

Sianala, Montreal, Sep, 15, 2007

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महागणेशा पंचरत्न 
१०८ गणेशनामा
१००० गणेशनामा 
गणेश
गणपति 
महा गणपति 
गणेशा चतुर्थी 
गणेशा मंत्र 

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Ganesha Mantra

Following are few Ganapathi Mantra's to remember and to chant regularly, each mantra should be treated as one complete phenomenon and one should take time to chant it, with full faith and the image of the deity should fill the mind.

ॐ श्री गणेशय नमः !

ॐ गँ (ग्लौं ) गणपतये नमः ! 

ॐ एकदन्तय विद्महे वक्रतुणडय धीमहि तञो दन्तिः प्रचोदयात् !

ॐ वक्रतुणडय महाकाय सूर्य कोटी समप्रभा निर्विघ्नम कुरु मे देवा सर्व कर्येशु सर्वदा !

ॐ गणानाम भूतगणधी सेवितम कपित्थ्य जम्बू फल्चारू भक्षनं

उमासुताय  शोक  विनाशकारकम नमामि विघ्नेश्वर पाद पंकजं !

ॐ शुक्लाम्बरधरं   विष्णुं  शशिवर्णं चतुर्भुजम  प्रसन्नवदनं  ध्यायेत सर्वा विघ्नोपशान्तये !

ॐ सुमुखास्चा एकदंतस्चा कपिलो गजकर्नाकाः . लम्बोदारास्चा विकटो विघ्नानाशो गणाधिपाः .. धूम्रकेतुर्गणध्यक्षो बलाचंद्रो गजणानाः . द्वादाशैतानी नामानी यह पठेतः श्रुनुयादापी .. विद्याराम्भे विवाहे चा प्रवेशे निर्गमे तथा सन्ग्रमे संकटश्चैवा विघ्नः तस्य ना जयते ॥

ॐ विनायाकं गुरुं भानुं ब्रह्मविश्नुमाहेश्वरण् सरस्वतीं प्रणम्यदौ सर्व कर्यार्थे सिद्धये .. !

ॐ अगजाननं   पद्मार्कं  गजाननं  अहर्निशम  !

अनेकदंतं  भक्तानां  एकदन्तं  उपास्महे !!

ॐ श्रीं  ह्रीं  कलीं क्लोव्म गंणपतये वर वरद सर्वजनमय वसमानय् स्वः ! 

Ganesha Yantra:

ॐ नमः शिवाय!

Sianala, Montreal, July 2007.

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महागणेशा पंचरत्न 

१०८ गणेशनामा

१००० गणेशनामा 

गणेश

गणपति 

महा गणपति 

गणेशा चतुर्थी 

गणेशा मंत्र 

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Maha Ganapathi

ॐ केशवाय नमः। 

"Ganesha", means Leader of people।

The legend: Parvati (Consort of Shiva) scraped the scuff off her body, mixed it with oil, transferred it into a figure of small child and gave life to the figure by sprinkling sacred Ganges (River Ganges in India) water on it. Then she asked this child to guard her door while she bathes.

Shiva arrives at the door but is denied entrance by the unknown child, lord Shiva cuts off the head of the child after a battle. 

Seeing  Parvati in sorrow, he orders his followers to find any living thing that is sleeping with its head towards north, Yama's abode is in south, the followers of Shiva find a elephant, they severe the head of the elephant and bring it back to Shiva.

Shiva joins the head with the body of child and awards him the foremost position among all devata's (Gods).

His form represents all those virtues which a leader of men should possess.

His elephant head - strength of an elephant to overcome the challenges of life.

Tiny eyes - sharp vision.
Large ears - lend one's ears to all.

"Paasa" (noose) - Maya ( Illusion) should be controlled.

Goad (Axe) - To restrain ego.

Big head - Broad intellect.

Single tooth - symbol of victory over lust.

Large stomach - To take in all Public secrets.

Snake - Sleeping Kundalini Energy.

Rat (Vehicle) - Ignorant Soul if not guarded can become materialistic and would
run after everything that others possess.

Trunk - Pranava "Aum' which symbolizes Brahman.

Four hands - Four Vedas ( Rig, Yajur, Sama and Atharva Veda)

Ganesha is represented by Aum ( Mantra) and Swastika (Yantra).

Ganapathi is first among all rulers, he is the God of wisdom, knowledge, champion of worldly achievements, and remover of obstacles. He is invoked at the beginning of all religious events and all important undertakings.

Following are 108 names of Shri Ganesha from his more than 1,000 names:

Akhuratha : One who has Mouse as His Charioteer
Alampata : Ever Eternal Lord
Amit : Incomparable Lord
Anantachidrupamayam : Infinite and Consciousness Personified
Avaneesh : Lord of the whole World
Avighna : Remover of Obstacles
Balaganapati : Beloved and Lovable Child
Bhalchandra : Moon-Crested Lord
Bheema : Huge and Gigantic
Bhupati : Lord of the Gods
Bhuvanpati : God of the Gods
Buddhinath : God of Wisdom
Buddhipriya : Knowledge Bestower
Buddhividhata : God of Knowledge
Chaturbhuj : One who has Four Arms
Devadeva : Lord! of All Lords
Devantakanashakarin : Destroyer of Evils and Asuras
Devavrata : One who accepts all Penances
Devendrashika : Protector of All Gods
Dharmik : One who gives Charity
Dhoomravarna : Smoke-Hued Lord
Durja : Invincible Lord
Dvaimatura : One who has two Mothers
Ekaakshara : He of the Single Syllable
Ekadanta : Single-Tusked Lord
Ekadrishta : Single-Tusked Lord
Eshanputra : Lord Shiva’s Son
Gadadhara : One who has The Mace as His Weapon
Gajakarna : One who has Eyes like an Elephant
Gajanana : Elephant-Faced Lord
Gajananeti : Elephant-Faced Lord
Gajavakra : Trunk of The Elephant
Gajavaktra : One who has Mouth like an Elephant
Ganadhakshya : Lord of All Ganas (Gods)
Ganadhyakshina : Leader of All The Celestial Bodies
Ganapati : Lord of All Ganas (Gods)
Gaurisuta : The Son of Gauri (Parvati)
Gunina : One who is The Master of All Virtues
Haridra : One who is Golden Coloured
Heramba : Mother’s Beloved Son
Kapila : Yellowish-Brown Coloured
Kaveesha : Master of Poets
Krti : Lord of Music
Kripalu : Merciful Lord
Krishapingaksha : Yellowish-Brown Eyed
Kshamakaram : The Place of Forgiveness
Kshipra : One who is easy to Appease
Lambakarna : Large-Eared Lord
Lambodara : The Huge Bellied Lord
Mahabala : Enormously Strong Lord
Mahaganapati : Omnipotent and Supreme Lord
Maheshwaram : Lord of The Universe
Mangalamurti : All Auspicious Lord
Manomay : Winner of Hearts
Mrityuanjaya : Conqueror of Death
Mundakarama : Abode of Happiness
Muktidaya : Bestower of Eternal Bliss
Musikvahana : One who has Mouse as His Charioteer
Nadapratithishta :One who Appreciates and Loves Music
Namasthetu : Vanquisher of All Evils and Vices and Sins
Nandana : Lord Shiva’s Son
Nideeshwaram : Giver of Wealth and Treasures
Omkara : One who has the Form Of OM
Pitambara : One who has Yellow-Coloured Body
Pramoda : Lord of All Abodes
Prathameshwara : First Among All
Purush : The Omnipotent Personality
Rakta : One who has Red-Coloured Body
Rudrapriya : Beloved Of Lord Shiva
Sarvadevatman : Acceptor of All Celestial Offerings
Sarvasiddhanta : Bestower of Skills and Wisdom
Sarvatman : Protector of The Universe
Shambhavi : The Son of Parvati
Shashivarnam : One who has a Moon like Complexion
Shoorpakarna :Large-Eared Lord
Shuban : All Auspicious Lord
Shubhagunakanan : One who is The Master of All Virtues
Shweta : One who is as Pure as the White Colour
Siddhidhata : Bestower of Success and Accomplishments
Siddhipriya : Bestower of Wishes and Boons
Siddhivinayaka : Bestower of Success
Skandapurvaja : Elder Brother of Skand (Lord Kartik)
Sumukha : Auspicious Face
Sureshwaram :Lord of All Lords
Swaroop : Lover of BeautyTarun : Ageless
Uddanda : Nemesis of Evils and Vices
Umaputra : The Son of Goddess Uma (Parvati)
Vakratunda : Curved Trunk Lord
Varaganapati : Bestower of Boons
Varaprada : Granter of Wishes and Boons
Varadavinayaka : Bestower of Success
Veeraganapati : Heroic Lord
Vidyavaridhi : God of Wisdom
Vighnahara : Remover of Obstacles
Vignaharta : Demolisher of Obstacles
Vighnaraja : Lord of All Hindrances
Vighnarajendra : Lord of All Obstacles
Vighnavinashanaya : Destroyer of All Obstacles and Impediments
Vigneshwara: Lord of All ObstaclesVikat : Huge and Gigantic
Vinayaka : Lord of All
Vishwamukha : Master of The Universe
Vishwaraja : King of The World
Yagnakaya : Acceptor of All Sacred and Sacrificial Offerings
Yashaskaram : Bestower of Fame and Fortune
Yashvasin : Beloved and Ever Popular Lord
Yogadhipa : The Lord of Meditation

The birthday of Shri Ganesha is celebrated on the fourth (Chaturthi) day of the shukla paksha (waxing moon, Caution -Do not look at the moon at any cost on this day, if one would want to avoid a curse-- I did to experiment- result was very bad, what follows is humilitation, rebuke, bad rumours, defamation, Insults etc. etc by strangers and even friends, and remedy is to do Ganapathi vrata for minimum 40 days. the best way is to avoid going out after evening hours, now I do not venture out on this day at any cost, very important thing is if you do not invoke the diety there is no problem, but if you do, then follow the rules. Even Shri Krishna was not spared from this curse, he by mistake took a glance at moon's shadow in the bowl of water. 

ॐ श्री गं (ग्लौं) महागणपतये नमः। 

 please forgive us.).

Bright half of the month Bhadrapada indicates knowledge (For year 2007 it is 15th September).

The fourth day symbolizes the power beyond the three Gunas and the three states (awake, dream, deep sleep). 

Prayer to Ganapathi is prayer to none other than parabrahman it grants peace of mind and contentment and is beyond the five elements, it destroys the three sources of disturbances, those caused by nature, animals, and subjective, so pray before initiating any undertakings.

Ganapathi is the presiding deity for Muladhara Chakra ( First and the base chakra). He constitutes the five elements and at the same time transcends them, he is the ladder of liberation and so he should be worshipped first, no worship should begin with out the worship of Lord Ganesha, the bestower of auspiciousness. So before anything and everything just say 

ॐ श्री गं (ग्लौं) महागणपतये नमः। 

May Ganapati bless us and direct us towards knowledge from ignorance and please do not be under this impression that obstacles will stop once Shri Ganesha is invoked, the obstacles are the part of the game on this arena called 'Earth', lord Ganesha once invoked will always find a way out. :-))

ॐ नमः शिवाय!

Sianala, Montreal, July 2007